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It’s that time of year already. Weekend and evening commutes are jammed by throngs of shoppers bustling from store to store. E-tailers and brick-and-mortar stores compete for consumer dollars with a barrage of ever-changing sales and specials. The pre-adolescent chants of “I want! I want!” fill the air, followed closely by the exasperated sighs and moans of beleaguered parents straddling the line between making their children happy and teaching them the value of a dollar.
Oh yes, it truly is “the most wonderful time of the year”…
Sadly this year, domestic and global events are forcing us to tighten our holiday budgets in favor of the necessities. Home heating and two weeks of groceries will fill some homes instead of a spiffy new HDTV and foundation-rocking 7.1 channel sound system. For a good number of people, this will be a very frugal Christmas.
To help our readers shop for the Star Wars collectors in their lives (or even themselves), Yodasnews is happy to lend a helping hand with our first Holiday Shopper’s Guide. In here, you will find a couple ideas for small stocking stuffers as well as some unbelievable deals on otherwise expensive or out-of-production collectibles. There are a few ideas for some reasonably priced Christmas gifts, and there are several higher-end suggestions for more serious and mature collectors. Many of these items have been hand-selected from our review archives, so links to those reviews are included to give you a closer look at the potential presents.
We hope you find this guide helpful and enjoyable.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Yodasnews.com!!
“INCREDIBLE” DEALS
We’re all looking for the best deals this holiday season—“more bang for your buck” as the saying goes. Therefore, we would like to share with you two “incredible” deals that can put some moderately expensive higher-end collectibles underneath your tree for a fraction of the original price.
McQuarrie Darth Vader vs. Luke Skywalker vinyl model kit
Those of you who are regular Yodasnews visitors are undoubtedly familiar with our recent and still-going series of Kotobukiya reviews and the incredible holiday sale at Things From Another World (http://www.tfaw.com/offer/swkotos/?qt=ynews). For those who aren’t, TFAW is currently running a sale on over a dozen Kotobukyia vinyl model kits with prices 50% off of the retail price!! The first two models we’ve reviewed have already sold out, but many more are still available.
Based on a concept painting by Ralph McQuarrie, the Darth Vader vs. Luke Skywalker vinyl model is the best of these deals, ringing up at a mere $99.98 (sale price is reflected in shopping cart—not on item page). This model is a near-perfect 3-D translation of McQuarrie’s painting, is a cinch to assemble, and can be displayed separately or in its intended diorama form. This is the perfect gift for that special Star Wars collector in your life. Film buffs, concept art lovers, and home theater enthusiasts will also find this to be a welcome addition in their homes.
To go straight to the McQuarrie model at TFAW.com, click on the large image above.
To read our extensive review of this model, click on the thumbnail below.
Imperial Snowtrooper vinyl model kit
Featuring a dynamic pose and intricate detailing, the Snowtrooper vinyl model is an outstanding entry in Kotobukiya’s ArtFX line. Put this on your shelf, and people will think some voodoo witch doctor ambushed a Snowtrooper in a snowy battlefield and magically miniaturized him before the poor trooper could even wipe the mud off his boots!! At $49.99, this is an absolute bargain, but supplies are limited (as with all the Kotobukiya models at TFAW.com). Andrew's Toyz also has this for a great deal at only $55.
To go straight to the Snowtrooper model at TFAW.com, click on the large image above.
To read our extensive review of this model, click on the thumbnail below.
Princess Leia (Jabba’s Slave Girl) vinyl model kit
Here’s one for all of the fanboy bachelors (or college guys) in our audience—unless you have a very understanding and tolerant wife. Scantily-clad in her unforgettable metal bikini, this vinyl model of Princess Leia Organa features a distinct anime flavor in the sculpting, making it a unique take on an iconic part of the Star Wars saga. Another model priced at a reasonable $49.99, this is a must-buy item—even if you have to smuggle it in under the radar. Andrew's Toyz also has this for a great deal at only $55.
To go straight to the Princess Leia (Jabba’s Slave Girl) model at TFAW.com, click on the large image above.
To read our extensive review of this model, click on the thumbnail below.
.45 Scale Lightsaber Replicas
One of the most collector-friendly moves made by Master Replicas prior to their loss of the Star Wars license was producing a line of .45 scale lightsaber replicas. These mass-produced open edition pieces allowed collectors to own highly detailed and authentic replicas for an extremely affordable price.
After Master Replicas lost the license, various retailers bought up their remaining inventories. Razor’s Edge Collectibles was fortunate enough to acquire a large amount of the scaled replica lightsabers and is selling them for extremely low prices (as low as $9.99 in some cases!!). Razor’s Edge even has several convention exclusive and gold “chase” versions in stock. Of course, those rare items still command a decent price. Nevertheless, collectors will never see prices this low again, and these are the last of their kind…until another company picks up the scaled replica license (eFX, we hope).
To go straight to the “Star Wars Replicas” page at Razor’s Edge, click on the large image above. The bulk of the items are these marked-down replicas, but you will also find several Force FX lightsabers (now under the Hasbro Signature Series label) that may be of interest to you.
STOCKING STUFFERS
“Titanium Series” die-cast vehicles
While the days of old-fashioned Micro Machines are long gone, the brand lives on in Hasbro’s “Titanium Series” line of vehicles. It began with Star Wars but has since branched out to various licenses: Indiana Jones, Spider-Man, Marvel Comics, etc. However, the Star Wars collection is undoubtedly the largest and most diverse in this brand. These are readily available at the usual retailers (Wal-Mart, Target, and Toys r Us, to name a few) and cost an average of $6-7 each. While many are repaints and/or mostly plastic despite being labeled as die-cast metal, you can still find some quality vehicles such as the Tatooine Skiff and Republic Attack Cruiser in the above picture. Their small sizes and reasonable price tags make these ideal stocking stuffers for both kids and adults.
Hot Toys’ “Chubby” nesting dolls
These really caught collectors off-guard. When it was announced that Hot Toys acquired a Star Wars license, collectors fully expected it to be a 1:6 scale line of armored figures to complement the 1:6 license held by Hasbro and Sideshow Collectibles. Imagine everyone’s shock when the powerhouse Hong Kong company unveiled a line of small plastic nesting dolls.
Chuckle all you want, but these are surprisingly cute, fun, and affordable. Clicking on the above picture of the Sith Lords “Chubby” set will take you to their item page at Razor’s Edge Collectibles. Currently, this is the only set still available and for a mind-blowing low price of only $5.99, so don’t be surprised to see an “Item Not Found” error page.
Other “Evolution” Chubby sets such as Obi-Wan, C-3PO, and General Grievous have popped up at F.Y.E. stores in malls across the country but at prices around $10-15 each (still very reasonable for these figurines). If you still have one in your area, Suncoast may be another likely store in which to find these sets as they and F.Y.E. are part of the same parent company.
Click on the thumbnail below for an in-depth look at the Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader set. The basic structure and features of each set are identical, so you’ll get a good idea of what you’re getting.
GIFTS FOR COLLECTORS YOUNG AND OLD
Mighty Muggs
These “urban vinyl dolls” are certainly among the strangest product lines to come out of Hasbro in recent years. Like the Titanium Series, these have branched out to include licenses such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Marvel Comics with G.I. Joe and Transformers looming on the horizon. These “Muggs” are based on the idea of taking the same basic shape and creating different characters simply through the features painted on them. With occasional exceptions (Vader’s helmet, Yoda’s ears, etc.), that is exactly how Hasbro manufactures them, and the results yield quirky conversation pieces. An entire collection of these would be overkill. It would also get pricey since each Mugg costs between $10 and $12.
But pick a favorite character or two, and these make ideal gifts for under the tree—interesting, different, and cost-effective.
Click on the thumbnail below for our review of the entire first wave of Star Wars Mighty Muggs. Keep in mind that there are easily a dozen more characters on store shelves at this point, and one wave is entirely based on the new CGI Clone Wars program. These six in the review are hardly your only choices.
Captain Rex (Clone Wars Collection)
Readers of Yodasnews’ reviews will remember how poor the ratings have been on many of Hasbro’s animated-style Clone Wars figures. Still, there are some worthwhile entries, and the best of them thus far is Captain Rex. Rex has near-perfect articulation for this scale and a nice assortment of accessories. To top it off, he just looks cool. With prices on basic action figures now hovering at $7, consumers don’t have the luxury of gambling with their money and ending up with a turkey. Rest easy with Captain Rex as well as the basic Clonetrooper because they are sure-fire winners.
Click on the thumbnail below to read our comprehensive review of Captain Rex and see for yourself just what this figure can do.
All-Terrain Attack Pod (AT-AP)
In the arena of Star Wars action figures, a soldier without a lumbering technological terror behind him is pretty boring. Thankfully, Hasbro stepped up their game this year and produced some truly exciting and feature-laden vehicles for their $20 “Starfighter” assortment. Of those new entries, the most impressive vehicle is the AT-AP. With easily a half-dozen diverse features such as a retractable leg, projectile launcher, and rotating cannons, the AT-AP can easily lay waste to an entire army of plastic droids. The fly-open hatches and mounted gun turret also provide room for three clonetrooper figures, making this an excellent companion piece for Captain Rex and two generic clonetroopers.
HIGHER-END TREASURES
Naturally, there is always a larger package lingering somewhere near the center of the tree, peeking out through the other presents as if trying to hide and save itself for last. Those gifts also tend to be high-ticket items like a shiny new Playstation 3 or the latest HP laptop computer. For Star Wars collectors, these would be items from companies such as Gentle Giant, Sideshow Collectibles, and eFX.
For those budget-minded consumers who need to satiate that higher-end collecting thirst, here are some suggestions for previously expensive items that have come down in price over the course of the year.
Princess Leia Organa (Episode IV) mini-bust
The first of two Gentle Giant resin mini-busts in our holiday guide, the Episode IV Princess Leia mini-bust is one of those items that slips through the cracks and doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. One of the few higher-end pieces to capture the likeness of the late ‘70s Carrie Fisher, it is a fantastic work of art that exudes the spirit of the original films. However, not many of the 6,000 pieces sold at the original price of $50, and it has now gathered enough dust to end up at clearance prices at two reputable online retailers.
Razor’s Edge Collectibles currently has the best price at $24.99—50% off the original MSRP.
Things From Another World is only slightly higher at $30.
If you need to know more about this item, click on the thumbnail below to see the extensive Yodasnews review of this mini-bust.
Jango Fett (Version 2) mini-bust
The second Gentle Giant mini-bust in our guide is another curiously underselling piece. Jango Fett was cast in resin form back in the earliest days of Gentle Giant’s Star Wars license and now fetches a decent price on the secondary market. This second version, however, is superior in a multitude of ways—most notably the interchangeable head which features a stunning likeness of actor Temuera Morrison. While overdone on the helmet, the chrome on the body armor brings a decidedly sophisticated and elegant look to the mini-bust, and the painting represents what Gentle Giant can do when they put their best foot forward.
Princess Leia in Boushh Disguise 1:6 Scale Figure
The penultimate item in our holiday shopper’s guide is one of Sideshow Collectibles’ 1:6 scale action figure offerings. Having acquired the rights through a deal with Lucasfilm and Hasbro, Sideshow has released a large collection of highly-sculpted and realistically poseable 1:6 scale figures ranging from several different Luke Skywalker figures to three different Endor Rebel Soldiers. One of their best figures to date is Princess Leia Organa in her famous Boushh disguise. At the time, it was a figure of many firsts—the first female in the Star Wars line, the first Leia, the first bounty hunter, and the first to feature an interchangeable helmet. More than a year after it shipped to customers, this figure remains near the top of the list in both visual beauty and production quality. Still, like the Leia mini-bust, it seems to have fallen under the radar and is still available at several online retailers—including Sideshow Collectibles itself.
You can also order direct from Sideshow Collectibles at the normal retail price of $59.99.
For a more comprehensive look, click on the thumbnail to read the Yodasnews review for this stellar item.
Darth Sidious and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine 1:6 Scale Two-Figure Set
Our final recommendation this holiday season is none other than the manipulative Sith mastermind himself, Darth Sidious—and his pre-deformed public identity as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Currently, this remains the only two-figure set released by Sideshow in their Star Wars collection. These figures fire on nearly all cylinders. Their faces are the most lifelike and authentic portraits ever sculpted for these characters. Look at Palpatine from just the right angle, and you’ll swear Ian McDiarmid had been frozen and miniaturized. The tailoring is very impressive with only a few small quirks, and the sheer amount and diversity of accessories is utterly jaw-dropping thanks to inclusions such as a Sith Holocron and a Senate Hovercam.
The original MSRP of $120 plus the inability to buy the figures separately sent many collectors to message boards and eBay where sets were separated and sold individually. That approach left a decent amount behind to sit on warehouse shelves. As with Leia Boushh, Sideshow Collectibles still has some inventory on-hand and ready to ship.
Big Bad Toy Store, however, has the set for the very attractive price of $89.99.
As you can probably expect, we have links to our in-depth reviews of both figures. Click on the thumbnails below to read and see more about this must-have pair of figures. Just keep in mind that this is a two-pack despite the figures being reviewed separately (it was easier that way).
